Single material hanging file folder

ABSTRACT

A hanging file folder assembly includes a folder body having a front leaf and a rear leaf, joined along a lower fold line, a pair of flaps folded downwardly from an upper edge of the front leaf and the rear leaf along an upper fold line, the flaps defining a pair of open channels extending the length of the front leaf and rear leaf below the upper fold line, and at least one hook member integrally formed at an upper edge of each leaf and including at least two plies of the leaf folded upon itself. The folder assembly further includes a reinforcing strip disposed in each of the channels to reinforce the upper edges of the folder body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/239,257, filed on Sep. 2, 2009, and herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a single material hanging file folder, and more specifically to a single material hanging file folder that utilizes a combination of cut and folded, durable paper sheet and very dense paperboard strips to avoid the need for any other conventional hanging file folder reinforcing materials such as cut and coated metal or shaped plastic.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional hanging file folders are folders of flexible sheets such as durable paper that incorporate separate hooked spines, typically made of strips of cut and coated metal or shaped plastic, that are glued into folds along the file folder's open edges in such a way that the folder can be suspended like a pocket from rails mounted in specially designed file drawers or boxes.

As will be readily appreciated, conventional hanging file folder construction requires more than one material, typically durable paper and either metal or plastic, which results in relatively high materials and manufacturing costs. Significantly, conventional hanging file folder construction that is made with either metal or plastic spines produces a product that is not easily recyclable, as the various materials such as paper and either metal or plastic first be separated and then individually recycled.

In view of the above, a need exists for a single material construction for a hanging file folder in which the folder and reinforcing spines are made from a single material. An additional need exists for a single material construction for a hanging file folder that may be easily recycled.

With the forgoing concerns and needs in mind, it is the general object of the present invention to provide a single material hanging file folder to reduce manufacturing and recycling costs associated therewith, as compared to existing file folders, and to provide an ease of manufacture not presently known in the industry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a single material hanging file folder.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a single material hanging file folder that reduces costs associated with the manufacture of conventional hanging file folders.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a single material hanging file folder that provides an ease of manufacture presently unknown in the industry.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a single material hanging file folder that reduces costs associated with recycling conventional, mixed material hanging file folders.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a single material hanging file folder that provides a reduced cost, an ease of manufacture and reduced recycling costs through the use of a durable sheet and reinforcing spine that are manufactured from a single material.

These and other objectives of the present invention shall become clear by consideration of the specification taken as a whole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a single material hanging file folder in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an orthogonal view of the single material hanging file folder of FIG. 1 illustrating a pattern of cuts and folds of a durable paper sheet used to form the inventive file folder.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail orthogonal view of the single material hanging file folder of FIG. 1 illustrating a cut and fold pattern of a hook section at four top corners of the folder including wrapping tabs.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the single material hanging file folder of FIG. 1

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of two thin strips of dense paperboard that act as a reinforcing spine for use with the single material hanging file folder of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of strips of the paperboard of FIG. 5 illustrating a glue position of the strips immediately inside fold lines of two open edges of the inventive single material file folder.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the glue position of one reinforcing paperboard strip of FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 8 is perspective view of the single material hanging file folder of FIG. 1 illustrating the folding of outer edges of the file folder to the inside of the folder encasing the reinforcing paperboard strips.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the folded and glued edge of FIG. 8 illustrating a tip of the encased paperboard spine, a double thickness hook and a loose wrapping tab.

FIG. 10 is another enlarged detail perspective view of the folded and glued edge of FIG. 9 illustrating the wrapping tab glued to the inside face of the folder thereby enclosing and sealing the reinforcing spine.

FIG. 11 is detail perspective view of the folded and glued edge of FIG. 10 illustrating the formation of a hook.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An embodiment of the inventive single material hanging file folder 2 is depicted in FIGS. 1-11. As shown in FIG. 2, the folder 2 includes a single, coated paper sheet 10 that is generally rectangular in shape and has a generally T-shaped protrusion 12 integrally formed adjacent each corner thereof. The paper sheet 10 is folded in half about a medial, lower fold line 20 to form a folder body having a front leaf 14 and a rear leaf 16 joined at the lower fold line 20. A pair of flaps on paper sheet 10 are then folded downwardly towards the inside thereof about upper fold lines 30 to reinforce the upper edges. By folding each leaf 14, 16 about upper fold line 30, pockets or channels 18 extending the length of the folder body below the upper fold line 30 are formed.

As best shown in FIGS. 7, 9 and 10, these channels 18 are sized to accommodate reinforcing paperboard strips or spines 60, which serve to strengthen the upper edge of each leaf 14, 16. The reinforcing strips 60 are best shown in FIG. 6 and have a generally square or rectangular cross-section, although other configurations are also possible provided they impart a rigidity to the strips 60. The reinforcing strips 60 are formed of the same or a substantially similar material as the folder body and are preferably formed of high-density paperboard. As further shown therein, upper fold line 30 generally splits the protrusions 12 in half such that folding each leaf 14, 16 about upper fold line 30 provides a double thickness (i.e., two ply) integral hook 40 for hanging the inventive file folder 2 from rails of a hanging file folder cabinet, or the like. Integral wrapping tabs 50 are also provided in the hook section and serve to secure the reinforcing spines 60, to cover and protect the exposed plies of the paper sheet 10 and to provide a smooth and strong running surface at point of contact with the cabinet rails. The integral wrapping tabs 50 are adhered to an inner face of each leaf 14, 16 to secure the assembly, such as by using a glue, as discussed in detail below.

While in the preferred embodiment the reinforcing strips 60 are formed of the same material as the folder body, it is also possible that the strips 60 and folder body are formed of a slightly different material provided that both materials are recyclable using the same or a substantially similar process. The important point is that to effect recycling of the entire folder assembly 2, the strips 60 do not have to be removed from the folder body. As such, the reinforcing strips 60 and the folder body can be made from slightly different materials so long as they can both be recycled together using the same recycling process. In this respect, slightly different types of paper, plastic or other materials known in the art can be used for the folder body and the reinforcing strips, respectively.

FIGS. 1-11 illustrate the steps for manufacturing or assembling a single-material hanging file folder 2 in accordance with the present invention. As shown therein, the inventive single material hanging file folder 2 is assembled by folding a die-cut sheet of durable paper 10 in half along fold line 20 to form a folder body (FIG. 3). On the inside of the folder body, pre-cut strips 60 of high density paperboard are glued to sheet 10 just inside of the fold lines 30 to serve as reinforcing spines (FIG. 5, FIG. 6). The open edges or flaps of the folder are then folded again towards the inside along fold lines 30 to enclose the paperboard spines 60 and produce a double thickness hook 40. (FIG. 7). Optionally, the open edges may be adhered, by means known in the art, to the inside faces of the front leaf 14 and rear leaf 16, respectively, to further secure the reinforcing strips 60.

As best shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, during subsequent assembly, the wrapping tabs 50 of the folded sheets 10 are folded over all thicknesses/plies and glued to the inside face of folded sheet 10 (FIG. 9), i.e., to the inside faces of the front leaf 14 and the rear leaf 16. The resulting hanging file folder 2 has a blank front and back cover with protruding, reinforced hooks 40 at each of the 4 open corners to fit over the rails of conventional hanging folder cabinets, or the like.

As will be readily appreciated, the fact that the inventive single material construction for hanging file folder is manufactured from a single material, i.e., from paper, is an important aspect of the present invention. The use of a single material allows for an ease of manufacture presently unknown in the art. Accordingly, no special equipment is required to, for example, cut, coat and insert a hooked metal spine, or likewise, to form and attach the plastic alternative. Moreover, the use of a single material facilitates the recycling of hanging file folders made with the inventive single material construction, as a separate metal or plastic reinforcing hook and spine, for example, does not have to be removed prior to recycling.

While the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various obvious changes may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof, without departing from the essential scope of the present invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention includes all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hanging file folder assembly, comprising: a folder body having a front leaf and a rear leaf, said front leaf and said rear leaf joined along a lower fold line; a pair of flaps folded downwardly from an upper edge of said front leaf and said rear leaf along an upper fold line, said flaps defining a pair of open channels extending the length of said front leaf and said rear leaf below said upper fold line; and at least one hook member integrally formed at an upper edge of each said leaf and including at least two plies of each said leaf folded upon itself.
 2. The hanging file folder assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a reinforcing strip disposed in each of said channels.
 3. The hanging file folder assembly of claim 2, wherein: said reinforcing strip is formed from high density paperboard.
 4. The hanging file folder assembly of claim 2, wherein: said folder body and said reinforcing strips are formed from the same material.
 5. The hanging file folder assembly of claim 4, wherein: said material is paper.
 6. The hanging file folder assembly of claim 1, further comprising: an integral wrapping tab on said at least one hook member; wherein said wrapping tab is folded over all said plies and adhered to an inside face of said file folder assembly.
 7. The hanging file folder of claim 1, wherein: said at least one hook member is four hook members for hanging said file folder assembly from rails of a hanging file folder cabinet.
 8. The hanging file folder of claim 1, wherein: said folder body and said reinforcing strips are formed from a materials that can be recycled using the same process.
 9. A method of manufacturing a hanging file folder, said method comprising the steps of: providing a generally rectangular sheet of material with a tab protrusion adjacent each corner of said sheet; folding said sheet about a lower fold line to define a folder body having a front leaf and a rear leaf joined along said fold line; folding an upper portion of each said leaf towards an inside of said folder body along an upper fold line to define a pair of open channels, said channels extending a length of said folder body; wherein said step of folding said upper portion of each leaf causes said tab protrusions to be folded in half to create a hook member adjacent upper corners of each said leaf.
 10. The method of manufacturing a hanging file folder of claim 9, further comprising the step of: securing a reinforcing strip to an inside face of each said leaf just below said upper fold line prior to said step of folding said upper portion of each said leaf such that subsequent to said step of folding said upper portion, said reinforcing strips are disposed within said channels.
 11. The method of manufacturing a hanging file folder of claim 9, further comprising the steps of: folding a wrapping tab over all thicknesses of each said leaf; and securing said wrapping tab to said inside face of each sheet.
 12. The method of manufacturing a hanging file folder of claim 10, wherein: said reinforcing strips are secured to said inside face of each said leaf with an adhesive.
 13. The method of manufacturing a hanging file folder of claim 10, wherein: said sheet of material and said reinforcing strips are formed from the same material.
 14. The method of manufacturing a hanging file folder of claim 10, further comprising the step of: securing said upper portion of each said leaf to an inside of each said leaf to fully enclose said reinforcing strips within said channels.
 15. A method of assembling a hanging file folder, said method comprising the steps of: providing a folder body with a front leaf and a rear leaf, said front leaf and said rear leaf being joined along a lower fold edge; securing a reinforcing spine adjacent an upper portion of each said leaf; and folding an upper portion of each said leaf to enclose said reinforcing spine and to form a plurality of hook members for engaging rails of a hanging file folder cabinet.
 16. The method of assembling a hanging file folder of claim 15, further comprising the steps of: folding a wrapping tab over a portion of said hook members; and securing said wrapping tab to an inside face of each said leaf.
 17. The method of assembling a hanging file folder of claim 15, further comprising the step of: providing said folder body with a generally T-shaped protrusion adjacent top corners of each said leaf prior to said step of folding said upper portion.
 18. The method of assembling a hanging file folder of claim 15, wherein: said hook members are integrally formed with said folder body.
 19. The method of assembling a hanging file folder of claim 15, wherein: said reinforcing strips and said folder body are formed of the same material.
 20. The method of assembling a hanging file folder of claim 15, wherein: said reinforcing strips are secured to said upper portion of each said leaf using an adhesive. 